Joshua Exequiel Riccardo will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters as he targets a breakthrough title.
The Argentine, who was born with cerebral palsy, carded three birdies on the bounce down the stretch to sign for a two-over-par 75 over the Brabazon Course at The Belfry Hotel & Resort.
The Argentine, who was born with cerebral palsy, recovered from making three bogeys over his opening four holes to card three birdies on the bounce down the stretch to sign for a two-over-par 75 over the Brabazon Course
Daniel Slabbert of South Africa, an above-the-knee amputee, is his nearest challenger after mixing two birdies with six bogeys on his G4D Tour debut.
Slovenia’s Marjan Gavez, the World Number One in the Net rankings, is one of five debutants in the ten-player field and sits third on the leaderboard after a 78, one shot better than England’s Bradley Smith.
Exequiel Riccardo, whose sole previous G4D Tour start came at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters last year, made three birdies in his front-nine 38, before bouncing back from a triple bogey at the tenth with four birdies in a five-hole stretch from the 11th to set the early pace.
Speaking through his father who was acting as a translator, Exequiel Riccardo said: "I played really well, especially my putter.
"I was looking to go as low as possible so I am happy.
"This course is wonderful, a wonderful place to play golf.
"This kind of tournament for us is really important, it's great to feel included."
France’s Alexia Girault tees it up as one of two females in the field alongside England’s Aimi Bullock, with both players opening with 88s.
The G4D Tour was launched in 2022 as a partnership between the DP World Tour and EDGA, formally the European Disabled Golf Association. The G4D player pathway aims to cater for everyone with a disability who wants to play golf, and for many, the G4D Tour is seen as the pinnacle of competition with competitors playing on the same course, in the same week, as the leading Tour professionals on the DP World Tour.
Due to the European Tour group’s ongoing financial support, EDGA has been able to raise awareness, confirm eligibility, organise tournaments, and deliver golf development and coach education worldwide.
